Dakota Ridge, a ski and snowshoe area operated by the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), is gearing up for its opening day this Friday, Dec. 15, as long as weather conditions hold out.
Sam Adams, the SCRD’s parks planning coordinator, was out last weekend preparing the trails with a team of volunteers and says so far, so good. “There is, surprisingly, 26 inches of snow at the warming hut.”
The ski area, located on the traditional territories of the shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh Nations, is a 1,532-acre plateau with 20 km of Nordic ski trails, four kilometres of groomed and three kilometres of ungroomed marked snowshoe trails.
The warming hut is 1,000 m above sea level, and there is twice as much snow a few hundred metres higher. The amount of snow for this time of year varies, but Adams says 26 inches (66 cm) represents the average.
Jamie Mani, owner of Alpha Adventures, an outdoor recreation business that sells guided tours and ski and snowshoeing lessons and operates a shuttle service to Dakota Ridge, is planning for a busy start.
“You’d be amazed how many people, especially during the Christmas and holiday season, just want a little touch of winter,” Mani says. “They’re thankful sometimes to not have to shovel it out of their driveway, and yet within half an hour drive they can be up in winter wonderland.”
Dakota Ridge is renowned for its views of the Coast Mountains, Georgia Strait and Vancouver Island. Last year the area received an average of 200 visitors a day. Mani says he has noted an uptick in visitors, many of whom are making the trek from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. He says part of the reason for the increase is, ironically, because Dakota Ridge remains a relatively pristine recreational area.
“If you were to go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at one of the areas around Vancouver, it would be a very different experience, and yet the calibre, the trail network and snow quality, I find is as good if not better sometimes for us at Dakota Ridge.”
This year the Dakota Nordic program and Jackrabbits ski lessons will be taking place, though registration is now closed. On Saturday, Feb. 3, the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club will be hosting its annual Sunshine Coast Loppet and Snowshoe Race.
Ticket sales offset the cost of operations. They can be purchased at Gibsons & Area Community Centre, the Sechelt Aquatic Centre, Pender Harbour Aquatic & Fitness Centre, Alpha Adventures and at the trailhead (exact change required). Ski day passes cost $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $6 for teens and are free for children 12 and under. Snowshoe day passes cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for teens and are free for children 12 and under.
Conditions are variable this time of year, and the most up to date information can be found on the Dakota Ridge Facebook Page. Adams highly recommends those driving to Dakota Ridge keep their lights on, take it slow and use four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with snow tires and chains to navigate the unpredictable mountain weather conditions.
